After the end of World War II, an intergovernmental organization was established to prevent such a devastating conflict from ever happening again. Today, we know this organization as the United Nations—you know, the guys responsible for trick or treating for UNICEF.

In the early years of its formation, the United Nations went through a process of drafting declarations and charters that explained its purpose as a humanitarian initiative and defined the nature and meaning of human rights. (Dang. That's just insanely impressive.)

These documents are now collected in the International Bill of Human Rights, which is the basis for a whole passel of international law.

An important component of the International Bill of Human Rights is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a document that lists 30 articles outlining the rights to which every human being is absolutely entitled.

Built upon the central principles of FDR's Four Freedoms—but bigger and better than the Four Freedoms—the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was developed by the United Nations with the help of widowed first lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

Completed in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 10th of that year. Bonus factoid: in commemoration of that historical vote, December 10th is annually recognized as Human Rights Day.